New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee Monday stated that she was not in favour of the INDIA bloc projecting any prime ministerial face forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stating the emergence of H.D. Deve Gowda and I.Ok. Gujral as post-poll consensus faces to guide governments up to now.
Banerjee stated “it would be better” to announce a first-rate ministerial candidate after the elections, whereas dismissing recommendations that the INDIA bloc of events against the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) was already late in checking out key areas of cooperation together with seat-sharing.
“Better late than never,” she stated, whereas interacting with a gaggle of reporters throughout her ongoing go to to the nationwide capital.
Her remarks come a day forward of the INDIA bloc’s fourth joint assembly in Delhi. Developments within the assembly shall be keenly watched as efforts to present form to the alliance got here to a digital standstill after its third assembly in Mumbai in September with the Congress shifting its focus to meeting polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.
Nonetheless, regardless of the Congress’ drubbing in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan — with Telangana being the one vivid spot for the social gathering — Banerjee asserted that she feels that opposition events are very a lot within the sport to defeat the BJP within the normal election.
“I do not accept that 2024 is a done deal,” she stated.
TMC is amongst opposition events which have been advocating the necessity to wrap up seat-sharing talks as early as potential to effectively counter the BJP within the Lok Sabha polls. Within the final assembly of the bloc in early September, the TMC had advised that talks on this entrance be accomplished by mid-October.
“It (seat sharing) is not that easy. In principle, if you make a policy decision then everything will run smoothly, it is my idea,” she stated.
Banerjee added that she was open to the thought of launching joint campaigns and understanding a standard minimal agenda. “They (non-BJP voters) will unite if opposition parties unite,” she stated when requested whether or not the Opposition may consolidate non-BJP votes.
She additionally stated that she has “nothing personal” in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Residence Minister Amit Shah and that her combat is “ideological”.
But it surely was in response to a query about projecting a PM candidate that she expressed clear reservations. “How Deve Gowda, Gujral, Manmohan Singh became the face?” she requested.
She additionally refused to get drawn right into a query on whether or not Congress MP Rahul Gandhi ought to announce that he’s not within the race to develop into the PM.
“After the election, everyone will decide,” stated Banerjee, who met Delhi Chief Minister and AAP nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal Monday night.
Requested concerning the expulsion of TMC’s Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha, Banerjee stated the social gathering stands behind the previous Krishnanagar MP. Sidestepping a question on whether or not the TMC will area Moitra from the identical seat within the 2024 polls, Banerjee stated that call shall be taken by the social gathering’s parliamentary election committee.
“Party is fully giving support. She (Moitra) was not allowed to defend herself. It was very unfortunate,” Banerjee stated.
In the course of the interplay, she additionally appeared softer on the Congress’ nationwide management. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Banerjee stated, was “trying her best”.
“What more can she (Sonia Gandhi) do?” requested the TMC chief.
On a potential pact between the Congress and the TMC in West Bengal, Banerjee informed reporters: “Somebody must bell the cat. I don’t have any problem. They have only two seats in Bengal. I am open to discussion.”
And on whether or not Left events could discover a place in such an alliance in West Bengal, Banerjee stated she was not averse to talks with anybody.
“Mentally you have to prepare, principally you will have to agree. I don’t have any problem, but if others have I cannot help,” she stated, showing to recommend {that a} potential understanding between the TMC and the Left can be impractical because of the latter’s hostile stance in the direction of her social gathering.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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